Sahara Dust Storm Sweeps Across Mediterranean to Europe

On October 15, a powerful dust storm originating from the Sahara Desert crossed the Mediterranean Sea, affecting multiple regions in Spain. Skies turned orange in cities including Madrid and Granada, with PM10 concentrations exceeding 500 micrograms per cubic meter in several areas—10 times the EU safety threshold. The orange dust cloud not only altered regional energy balance by scattering and absorbing solar radiation but also caused shading and erosion of photovoltaic facilities, thereby impacting clean energy utilization.